The Yawning Portal’s taproom fills the first floor of the building. The 40-foot-diameter well that provides access to Undermountain dominates the space. The “well” drops as an open shaft for 140 feet. Stirges, spiders, and worse have been known to invade the Yawning Portal from below.

Balconies on the tavern’s second and third floors overlook the well, with those floors accessed by way of wooden stairs that rise up from the taproom. Guests sitting at the tables on the balconies have an excellent view of the any adventurer who dares ride the rope.

Everyone must pay a gold piece to be lowered down. The return trip also costs a piece of gold, sent up in a bucket in advance. Once the initial payment is made, a few stairs takes one to the top of the waist-high lip of the well. The rope that hangs in the center of the well is levered over to the lip by a beam in the rafters, and when those who have paid are ready, they mount the rope and take the long ride down.

It's been several weeks since anyone has dared, but the tavern is full of people boasting-and probably fibbing-of their trip down. But the man behind the bar only smirks at the tall tales. He is Durnan, the man who dared and came back with enough gold to buy the Tavern...mysteriously that was about 300 years ago, yet he doesn't look a day over 35.

Behind the bottles behind the bar is a large assortment of curios from down below: A key carved from bone, a mummified troglodyte’s hand, half of an iron symbol of Bane, an iron gauntlet that is hot to the touch. A troll finger, still wriggling, a silver coin that makes no noise when dropped. An empty jar; when opened, a wolf howl sounds from it and continues until it is closed. A vial filled with a dark, fizzy liquid that is sealed and cannot be opened, the feeler taken from a slain rust monster, a wooden smoking pipe marked with Elminster’s sigil.

There are one hundred patrons here, 20 around the main floor, and 40 on each balcony. You could approach and perhaps talk to anyone I suppose, but Durnan is the man to pay to play.

Other people that stand out:
A goliath with a beard down to his bellybutton who is the man responsible for the delicious smoked meat the Tavern serves.
A black tabaxi devotee of Tymora, who will bless adventurers for only 1 gold each.
A bored, retired drow, who sits alone with a sign that claims he has explored several dungeons of note and can describe first few areas.
A charming pink tiefling female is trying to sell a treasure map of one of the dungeons.
A typical edgelord, all black leather, white hair, who watches you closely under his hood.

Andromeda entered the Yawning Portal with lavender-hued eyes wide in wonderment, especially at the huge well of untold depth.  She marveled, “I’ve read many tales of this place, but have never dared to visit myself.  I had no idea the namesake pit would be so… huge!”  She grinned to her new adventuring companions, “Here begins our own tale of discovery and derring-do, eh, Crier?”

Looking around the many interesting patrons, Andromeda’s attention was immediately drawn to a drow retiree with a sign proclaiming knowledge of notable dungeons, which was exactly what she was looking for.  She said to the others, “I am inclined to gather some information prior to our descent, if any of you would like to join me?  Otherwise, what say we reconvene at the bar in one hour?”

Andromeda then approached the retired drow, cleared her throat and waved, “Pardon me, sir?  Greetings!  My name is Andromeda and I intend to soon venture down into the dungeons with my comrades.  However, I would like to first arm myself with information!  Might I consult your expertise, sir?”  The young druidess already had her journal open on the bar, ready to write down whatever the veteran was willing to share.

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Persuasion to get info from the drow:

• 16:27, Today: Andromeda rolled 3 using 1d20.  Persuasion.

First roll of the game, and off to a fantastic start ;P

Onyxclaw walked in behind Andromeda, cloaked in his hood and cloak. He looked at her and nodded at her wisdom, looking at the tiefling. "I ask her." He walked over, his staff clipping on the floor as he went, clearly nervous in a room full of people who would kill him, just for being kobold.

He stood in front of teh tiefling and spoke softly. "You have map to cave under....looking to go. Which place map to?"